A man wanted for Revocation of Probation was arrested this (Monday) morning, at the Page County Courthouse. 39-year old Jeffrey Wade Bartles, of rural Blanchard, was arrested at around 10-a.m. and was unable to post a $5,000 cash bond. Bartles was being held at the Page County Jail pending further court proceedings.

Jeffrey Bartles

(12-p.m. News)

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest on Saturday, of 38-year old Jason Boyd Williamson, of Wiota. Williamson faces a felony OWI 3rd or Subsequent offense, charge. He was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released the following day on $5,000 bond.

Officials with the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association (ICA) and Iowa Beef Industry Council (IBIC) today (Monday), announced the winner of their “2016 Iowa’s Best Burger.”  The Chuckwagon Restaurant in Adair won the top award. Officials say “The Chuckwagon embraces the rich history of Adair through its restaurant and menu offerings.”

Chuckwagon Burger – a burger served on a grilled bun with sautéed onions, mushrooms, bacon, tomato and Thousand Island dressing.

The ICA and IBIC teamed up to sponsor Iowa’s Best Burger contest seven times. This year, Iowans submitted more than 6,000 votes nominating 311 restaurants in February and March. Those votes were used to select the Top Ten restaurants. The Top Ten were then independently visited and judged based on the hamburger’s taste, appearance, and proper serving temperature (160 degrees).

Brooke German, Director of Marketing for IBIC, said “The judges found that the burgers at the Chuckwagon were juicy and full of flavor. They use a toasted bun on every burger, and their homemade house seasoning helped to enhance the flavor of the burgers.”

Chuckwagon Restaurant – (from L to R) Salli Nosbish; Kimberly Reha, owner; Marnell Jensen; Jessica Eblen and Chelsea Buckner pose in front of the Chuckwagon Restaurant in Adair.

The burgers at the Chuckwagon are 6 ounce, hand-pattied Certified Angus Beef® and grilled on a flat-top grill using their own house seasoning. They are made-to-order with toasted bread or grilled buns. Popular burgers include the bacon cheeseburger and the Chuckwagon, a burger served on a grilled bun with sautéed onions, mushrooms, bacon, tomato and Thousand Island dressing. Served alongside homemade fries and a classic milkshake, the meal is hard to beat.

The restaurant’s owner, Kim Reha, is a lifelong resident of Adair. She purchased the restaurant at the age of 22. Although she considered a career as a surgical technician, she knew that her passion was in the restaurant business. At that time, she already had eight years of experience working in restaurants, and the hands on learning has served her well.

The restaurant, which Reha has owned for eight years, is a former Happy Chef. Over time, she has made improvements, including an interior renovation in 2012. In 2014, Reha changed the name and the menu, launching her now-famous “Endless Homemade French Fries” and hand-pattied burgers.

Reha said “The name ties into Adair’s annual celebration, Chuckwagon Days, and seemed to fit really well with the menu.”  The menu includes rhe Jesse James Burger, a double 1/3 pound bacon cheeseburger with all the fixings, topped with BBQ sauce and mayo speaks for itself.

The restaurant, which is clearly visible from Interstate-80 on exit 76, is open from 8 am to 10 pm during the summer (8 am to 9 pm year-round). Burgers start around $9, but the “Burger of the Week” is $2 off. Breakfast is served all day. There is a seating capacity of 112 and a patio area was added in 2015, and they are happy to take reservations, too.

Other restaurants that made the Top Ten with the Chuckwagon Restaurant are (alphabetically): Ankeny Diner, Ankeny; BW’s Burgers, West Des Moines; Down Right Delicious, Clarinda; Elm’s Club, Creston; First Street Grille, Keosauqua; PerXactly Bar & Grill, Maquoketa; Rides Bar & Grill, Fort Dodge; The Ritz, Arnolds Park; and Vaughn’s Café & Bakery, Clarinda.

In March, Zipp’s Pizzeria in Adair was named the winner of Travel Iowa’s Best Pizza in the State.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports a man from Hastings was arrested Friday afternoon. 33-year old Anthony Jay Rasco was taken into custody on a warrant for Burglary in the 3^rd degree, Possession of Controlled Substance and Possession of Paraphernalia. His bond was set at $5,300.

And, 27-year old Joshua Paul Coffman, of Council Bluffs, was arrested Sunday evening for Driving While Barred. His bond was set at $2,000.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – A lawsuit filed for more than a dozen people alleges a former Council Bluffs doctor shifted assets to his wife so he wouldn’t have to pay compensation to his sex crime victims. Dennis Jones was sentenced to 10 years in prison after his 2014 convictions. Prosecutors say Jones possessed an estimated 1.2 million images of child pornography and 9,300 videos of child pornography, including some of his young patients. Several families involved sued in 2014.

The Daily Nonpareil reports a new lawsuit filed last week names Jones and his wife, Marianne, and says he’s transferred more than $1.4 million in real estate and other assets to her. Their attorney, Mike Winter, says the transfers were made so Marianne Jones had funds to live on. Winter says the transfers weren’t fraudulent because all were made before lawsuits were filed.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Gov. Terry Branstad says he supports new language in a budget bill requiring state agencies to be more transparent about using infrastructure money on employee salaries. Branstad said Monday he supports language requiring state agencies to specify if special infrastructure dollars will be used on employee salaries and benefits. He is reviewing the $7.35 billion state budget after the Iowa Legislature adjourned Friday.

The language was added after The Associated Press reported the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs spent more than $176,000 in infrastructure money over two years on the salaries of three employees. The department received infrastructure money to finance renovation planning of the state historical building. Department officials said the use was appropriate because those employees did renovation planning. Some lawmakers said the practice could be more transparent.

Police in Glenwood arrested a woman Sunday for unlawful possession of a prescription drug. 31-year old Justine Banks, of Glenwood, was also arrested for Driving Under Suspension. Her bond was set at $1,300. And, 36-year old Lauralee Huffman, of Glenwood, was arrested Sunday for OWI/1st offense. Her bond was set at $1,000.

A teenager from Pottawattamie County died, and three others were injured, during a rollover accident Sunday morning, near Honey Creek. The Pott. County Sheriff’s Office says a male, 17-year old Dakota Gittins, of Underwood, died at Mercy Hospital, in Council Bluffs following the crash that happened at around 2:40-a.m., Sunday, in the vicinity of 185th Street and Sumac Road.

Deputies found a1998 Ford Escort involved in the crash, just before 3-a.m. An investigation determined the car failed to make it through a curve, left the road and went down into a ravine before it rolled over. Deputies located four teens, including Gittins, who was unconscious, and not breathing.  Deputies performed CPR on Gittins  until rescue personnel arrived, but he later succumbed to his injuries . 

The vehicles’ other occupants, all of whom are 17 and from Council Bluffs, were identified as Keegan Caskey, Collin Evans, and Riley Allman. They reportedly suffered minor injuries. The crash remains under investigation by the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office.

Gittins was a junior at the Underwood High School, where he played baseball and football. One of his sisters is a freshman at the school. Grief counselors were available at the school Sunday afternoon, and will continue to be available all this week, as needed.